Jesus Montero

Jesus Montero’s latest stint in the big leagues was a short one, as the Mariners have demoted the one-time top prospect back to Triple-A to make room for outfielder Michael Saunders’ return from the disabled list.

It will be at least two more weeks before Michael Pineda finally joins the Yankees’ starting rotation, but the 24-year-old Dominican righty is already showing legitimate signs of readiness. Pineda allowed just one (unearned) run over 4 2/3 innings on Sunday afternoon in his minor league rehab debut with High-A Tampa. Facing the Tigers’ High-A…

Yankees starter Michael Pineda will begin his rehab, making his first start tomorrow afternoon with the Single-A Tampa Yankees per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch on Twitter. He was originally scheduled to start today, but was pushed back to tomorrow due to a rainout. Pineda, who hasn’t pitched in the Majors since September 2011, suffered a torn…

Let’s run down the list of players connected to Tony Bosch’s Biogenesis clinic as MLB is reportedly preparing to issue 50- or 100-game suspensions. Listed below are players whose names are found in the Biogenesis documents. Other major leaguers may well be involved, as some of Bosch’s clients were listed in code. Since Bosch is…

Performance-enhancing drugs loomed large entering the baseball season, amid reports that dozens of players — many of them high-profile stars — could be suspended because of their reported involvement with a clinic that supplied PEDs. That story just got bigger. From ESPN.com investigative reporters T.J. Quinn, Pedro Gomez and Mike Fish: Major League Baseball will…

Michael Pineda has been cleared to take a big step in his long road back from shoulder surgery, as the Yankees right-hander is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Saturday at Single-A. Pineda has been throwing in extended spring training without any setbacks and Dan Martin of the New York Post reports that he…

Jesus Montero batted just .208 with three home runs and a .590 OPS prior to being demoted to Triple-A Tacoma last month, but his season has taken another disappointing turn. Greg Johns of MLB.com reports that Montero was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee and will undergo surgery next week. He’s expected…

Here’s a little twist to the news that the Mariners are going to send Jesus Montero back to Triple-A: Michael Pineda, whom the Yankees acquired for Montero only to watch him get hurt, is almost ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. General manager Brian Cashman told Andy McCullough of the Newark Star Ledger that…

So, if Michael Pineda makes an appearance in New York in the second half, do all the folks who said the Mariners won that trade have to eat crow? From the Tacoma News-Tribune: On the heels of a six-game losing streak and a 2-7 road trip, the Seattle Mariners will make an expected and needed…

White Sox 3, Angels 0: Chris Sale was fantastic. And not just because of that suh-weet 1983 throwback jersey. A perfect game into the seventh and then the hit that inning to Mike Trout was all the Angels could muster. Indians 4, Tigers 3: Watched this one with the girlfriend’s parents. Tigers fans. Let’s just…

Red Sox 9, Athletics 6: Just yesterday Mike Napoli was named player of the week for last week. He’s making a bid for a repeat now, hitting a grand slam and driving in five runs here. Overall he has 25 RBI in 19 games. Orioles 2, Blue Jays 1: Chris Tillman had a one hitter…

Nick Tepesch left in the second inning of tonight’s game against the Mariners after taking a Jesus Montero liner off of his right wrist. Gerry Fraley reports that the abrasion was visible, which is usually not a good sign. This unfortunate news comes a day after Rangers GM said he is standing pat with his…

Pitching on his 32nd birthday, Hisashi Iwakuma outdueled Yu Darvish in a battle of Japanese starters Friday as the Mariners beat the Rangers 3-1. Darvish opened the bottom of the first by hitting Jason Bay with one out and then giving up three singles, putting the Rangers in the early 3-0 hole. He was stellar…

UPDATE: Good news. Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik told Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times that Montero does not have a concussion. 5:01 PM: Scary moment in this afternoon’s Cactus League game between the Mariners and Indians. According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, Mariners catcher Jesus Montero made an early exit after he…

Between now and Opening Day, HardballTalk will take a look at each of baseball’s 30 teams, asking the key questions, the not-so-key questions, and generally breaking down their chances for the 2013 season. Up next: The Seattle Mariners. The Big Question: Are the Mariners finally on the right track? Absolutely. After some bad high payroll…

It was announced yesterday that Tigers minor league right-hander Cesar Carrillo was suspended 100 games for violating the minor league drug prevention and treatment program. No specific drug was mentioned in the announcement, but it was later confirmed that the suspension was the result of his connection to the Miami-based Biogenesis clinic. But there’s a…

The New York Daily News reports that Mariners catcher Jesus Montero‘s name appears in the Biogenesis records. Add him to Ryan Braun, Alex Rodriguez, Danny Valencia, Francisco Cervelli, Nelson Cruz, Gio Gonzalez and Yasmani Grandal. The report said he was “named in records.” It does not say if there is any indicia of PED use on…

From MLB.com beat writer Greg Johns comes word that the Mariners have reached agreement on a major league contract with catcher Kelly Shoppach. The deal is pending a physical, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday morning in Seattle. Shoppach, a 32-year-old native of Fort Worth, Texas, batted .233/.309/.425 with eight homers, 14 doubles…

Just when Michael Pineda will finally pitch in a regular season game with the Yankees remains uncertain, but he’s ready to take the next step in his rehab from right shoulder surgery. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told Erik Boland of New York Newsday that Pineda threw his final flat-ground session today and will throw…

Not only is Jesus Montero one of the slowest runners in baseball, he runs … well, let’s say oddly. Jeff Sullivan of the Mariners blog Lookout Landing once described Montero’s running style as like “stepping on creaky floorboards and you’re trying not to wake up a baby.” And as Greg Johns of MLB.com reports, Montero…

According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the Mariners have signed catcher Ronny Paulino to a minor league contract. This confirms a report by Alexander Azuaje from earlier this week. Paulino, who turns 32 in April, batted .254 (16-for-63) with three doubles, five RBI and a .567 OPS in 20 games with the Orioles last season.…

In Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik’s defense, he did aim high, pulling off a deal for Arizona’s Justin Upton that was negated by the right fielder’s no-trade clause. However, the moves that he’s actually completed this winter to aid the offense don’t bode particularly well for the Mariners’ 2013 hopes. – Traded OF Trayvon Robinson to…

The Mariners acquired Kendrys Morales from the Angels this week in exchange for Jason Vargas, but they aren’t done trying to add bats. George A. King III of the New York Post reports that the Mariners have “serious interest” in Raul Ibanez. It’s a bit of an odd fit on the surface, as the club…

Kendrys Morales played just 28 of his 134 games at first base this year, seeing the bulk of his action at designated hitter after missing most of 2010 and all of 2011 with a broken ankle. However, after being traded to the Mariners yesterday Morales said he’s “confident knowing that I’m 100 percent ready to…